SENSITIVE information on vulnerable children in social services’ care was found in a Midland garden shed by a builder, it emerged last night.

The confidential information is believed to have included private and personal case files of hundreds of children who were held in care in the Black Country.

Sensitive files had been hoarded by the former owner of Coalway Road children’s home in Wolverhampton, according to a group set up to ensure the safety of children.

After the home was closed and all the children left earlier this year, the information was left in a shed behind the property.

It represents a serious breach of statutory rules that require all such files to be held secure for 75 years.

Last night Wolverhampton City Council admitted the data protection blunder was a “matter of serious concern” and Ofsted revealed that it is investigating the former children’s home.

The files were uncovered by a builder who had been brought in to renovate the former children’s home, which housed scores of youngsters in the care of a number of councils for years.

The Wolverhampton Safeguarding Children Board report states: “The house had been repossessed by the landlord and was due for refurbishment.

“The vacant property had a number of rooms, including a locked shed with confidential material relating to children and young people who had been looked after by the children’s home.

“The builder was concerned at the amount of confidential data in the building.”

Because of the seriousness of the matter, the Government ­Office West Midlands also raised the ­issue at national level with the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Ofsted inspectors immediately visited the former home to see the confidential material, and meet with the former owner.

They informed him that he had a statutory duty to remove the files and make them secure.

Despite no longer being involved in running the care home, the inspectors explained that he was legally responsible for keeping the files on the local youngsters safe for 75 years.

“This situation came as a surprise to everyone,” said a source close to the council.

Abused

“It beggars belief that confidential information about children in care, including details about children who may have been abused, perhaps by family members, was left behind after the home closed.

“If that information had got into the wrong hands, who knows how it could have been used or where it might have ended up? The internet springs to mind. Thank God the builder ­realised what he had found.”

The home’s former owner acted appropriately after meeting with Ofsted inspectors, the report added.

John Welsby, Wolverhampton City Council’s chief officer for children and families, said: “Clearly, if a private provider closes a home without due regard for confidentiality, Ofsted can take this into account in any subsequent application by that provider to open a home.

“This is a matter for Ofsted and not one where local authorities have any powers.”

In a statement, Ofsted said: “All registered children’s homes are required under the Children’s Homes Regulations 2001 to maintain certain records in respect of each child accommodated there, and the registered person is required to ensure that all records are kept securely.

It added: “An investigation is under way in relation to a number of allegations in respect of the children’s home previously located at Coalway Road, Wolverhampton. It is, therefore, not appropriate for Ofsted to comment further at this stage.”